Head of Health & Safety – Bristol Airport

Location: Bristol Airport, Bristol
Salary: £100,000 – £110,000 depending on experience
Contract: Permanent 
Working arrangements: Hybrid, with 3–4 days per week on site

Assured Safety Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with Bristol Airport to appoint a Head of Health & Safety at an exciting time of significant growth and transformation.

With over £400 million of planned capital investment and major infrastructure developments ahead, this is an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the Airport's future, building on the progress already made in developing a positive safety culture.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership across a complex, fast-paced environment, influencing safety at every level while supporting the safe delivery of major construction and infrastructure projects.

We're looking for a visible, credible and engaging leader who can bring people together, challenge constructively and drive meaningful, lasting improvements.

The Role

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  Lead the Airport's Health & Safety strategy, embedding a positive, proactive and accountable safety culture.

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  Provide expert advice and strategic guidance to the CEO, Executive Team and senior stakeholders.

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  Oversee Health & Safety across airport operations, including major construction, infrastructure and capital investment programmes.

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  Lead and develop the Health & Safety team, encouraging collaboration and continuous improvement.

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  Strengthen safety management systems, governance, risk management and assurance arrangements.

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  Build effective relationships with contractors and business partners, ensuring consistent safety standards across a predominantly outsourced environment.

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  Oversee incident investigations, audits and safety performance reporting, ensuring lessons learned drive improvement.

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  Work closely with operational leaders to embed safety into everyday decision-making.

About You

We're keen to speak with experienced Health & Safety leaders who have operated within complex, high-risk or safety-critical environments and can demonstrate a strong balance of strategic leadership and operational credibility.

You'll bring:

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  Significant senior Health & Safety leadership experience, including engagement with Executive and Board-level stakeholders.

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  Proven experience supporting major construction, infrastructure or capital investment programmes, with strong knowledge of CDM Regulations.

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  Experience managing Health & Safety across contractor-led or outsourced operations.

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  A track record of leading cultural change, improving safety performance and engaging people across diverse teams.

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  Strong leadership, communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to influence and challenge at all levels.

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  Experience of safety management systems, auditing, incident investigation and risk management.

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  NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent Level 6 qualification and Chartered Membership of IOSH (desirable).

Experience within aviation would be advantageous, although we are equally interested in leaders from transport, infrastructure, utilities and other complex, safety-critical sectors.

Above all, you'll be an approachable, commercially aware and hands-on leader who enjoys being visible within the business and can engage people at every level.

The Package

Alongside a salary of £100,000 – £110,000, Bristol Airport offers an excellent benefits package, including:

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  Discretionary bonus scheme 

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  Hybrid working and flexitime

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  Pension scheme with employer contributions 

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  Private medical insurance, including dental cover

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  Life assurance and group income protection

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  Comprehensive family-friendly policies

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  Free on-site parking and discounted travel

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  Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme

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  Employee wellbeing support and assistance programme

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  Staff discounts, holiday parking and airport lounge benefits

Security Screening

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a Counter Terrorism Check (CTC) as part of the pre-employment screening process.